Protesters shoved, pepper sprayed during clash with ICE agents outside Delaney Hall
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Tensions continued to rise on Thursday in front of a New Jersey detention center as protesters clash with armed federal immigration officers.
Advocates have demonstrated for days while asserting that people detained there are staging a hunger strike over poor living conditions.
On Thursday, demonstrators again returned to Delaney Hall, where several protesters were pepper sprayed and have since brought out black umbrellas to fight off any chemicals being sprayed in their direction. One protestor was also be seen using a leaf blower to fight off an agent.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also said state health department officials were "denied full access" to the facility for a health inspection. The Democrat said the officials were only allowed to inspect a limited part of the facility as she called on ICE to "de-escalate" the situation.
"As I've said repeatedly, refusing to provide full access raises serious questions about what ICE is trying to hide from public view," Sherrill said in a statement that also repeated her calls to shut down the facility outright.
In a statement, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said four representatives from the New Jersey State Health Department entered the facility and inspected the food service department.
"The inspection of the kitchen was completed and they departed around 12:30 PM," he said.
On Wednesday night, groups of demonstrators, many wearing gas masks and other face coverings, linked arms in a human chain in front of Delaney Hall, videos and photos posted on social media show.
Some used trash cans, old mattresses, umbrellas and other materials as makeshift shields and barricades as they confronted U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement officers. Others attempted to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting the building or threw orange traffic cones and other objects in the direction of the ICE officers lined at the entry gate.
The ICE officers used pepper spray to try and disperse the protesters, according to videos posted to social media. Some used their batons to beat and push back protesters as the officers attempted to clear the roadway for vehicles.
One woman seen on video being shoved to the ground is a nurse. Norma Bowe said she was trying to treat a woman who had been dragged on the sidewalk.
"And I reached down to pull her up and an ICE agent threw me like a bag of garbage where I slammed my head," she said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said about six demonstrators were arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers.
"Assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony," the agency said in a statement. "Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Earlier Wednesday, Democratic members of Congress from New York City toured the facility as part of an oversight visit. A private prison company runs the detention center, which sits along an industrial stretch of Newark Bay.
Reps. Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, who all represent Manhattan, described dire conditions where people held in the facility are fed small portions of often spoiled food and their varied medical needs are ignored.
"The stories I've gotten, especially from women inmates, about the access to medical attention, seemed unsatisfactory, if not downright dangerous to their conditions," Booker said.
"Repercussions and retaliation have been launched against the people in the hunger strike. We were informed that 13 of them were moved out since the hunger strike began," Espaillat said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Nadler made his way inside.
"The food is very sparse. They get up and have breakfast at 4 in the morning, lunch at maybe 12, dinner at 4, and very small portions, so it's impossible, and very often, there are maggots in the food," Nadler said.
DHS spokespersons have denied any hunger strike, abuse or poor conditions inside the center and dismissed criticism from opponents as political posturing.
Protesters say they plan to remain planted on the lawns and sidewalks outside of Delaney Hall until all detainees are released.
Booker said Democrats must regain control of the House and Senate in November to dismantle the immigration policies of the Trump administration.
"We hope that come November we have the power to do that and shine more of a light on how this president's immigration policies are violating our collective values as a nation," Booker said.
Delaney Hall is a privately run facility with 1,000 beds. There are about 300 detainees inside, and they have tablets to communicate with the outside.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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